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Originally Posted by ricecrispi
Imperialism. Who did it benefited from imperialism? the "bourgeious" who wanted tea and far east goods or the investors? Imperialism is now corporate capitalism. Who benefits? The rich investors or the middle class?
We indirectly benefit from the capitalist cycle.
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It is important to note that Imperialism tends to mean the exploitation of everyone else by some dominant power. Now I am sure you can pull up historical examples of that with the U.S., the country's collective middle-east adventures over the past half century are a testament to that. However, I do not believe that corporate capitalism is some new tyranny.
For one, its a two way street. When you look at countries like Japan, South Korea, or Taiwan (pseudocountry?) they are all in their modern forms very much creations of the United States. They are all very successful countries, and they make far more money off of us than we do off of them (trade deficits, anyone?). They are also easily the most progressive, technically sophisticated, and democratic societies in Asia with the possible inclusion of Singapore and Hong Kong.
Western Europe has enjoyed similiar evolution vis a vis the USA ever since the Marshall Plan. The difference is Europe has crystallized its societies at this point. One look at the abysmal Eurozone Constitution's HUNDREDS of pages displays the micromanaging bureacracy inherent in European thinking and approach to problem solving today. Such inertia impedes the ability of a society to be dynamic and competitive. You don't see French products in this country very much because they cannot compete on an international level. This has nothing to do with failing of the French per se, its the country of Voltaire, the Curies, De Broglie, Marquise Lafayette, the list of talent goes on and on. But they have straight jacketed their society to where they can't leverage what they are good at anymore.